Sedum 'Autumn Joy'

Best Classic Stonecrop for Xeriscaping

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Autumn Joy Sedum is one of the most well known drought tolerant plants
for cottage gardens, New American gardens or xeric gardens.

First made popular in Germany, where it was known by the tongue
twisting name of Sedum telephium 'Herbstfreude' which was anglicized to
Autumn Joy when it was brought to North America.

Other unique and odd names that this species goes by are Orpine,
Livelong, Frog's-stomach, Harping Johnny, Life-everlasting,
Live-forever, Orphan John, Witch's Moneybags, and Midsummer-men, due to
its use in pagan times to determine if your love was true.

See more compatible hardy succulents for your xeriscaping:

Whether you're seeking the odd and unusual, or something reliable and classic, this list will give you some great choices; click on the plant:

As a backbone plant for xeriscaping,
Sedum Autumn Joy is a herbaceous perennial, meaning that it dies back
to the ground for the winter, but the big advantage to this and similar
Sedum varieties is it’s tendency to leave the upright blooming stems in
place with the mahogany or rust coloured seed heads.

This has a couple of advantages.

First,
the crown with its dead stems will hold the soil in place and prevent
soil erosion, and second, the snow will be held for early spring melt,
where it will do the most good, providing early moisture for the crown.

The roots of Sedum spectabile varieties are thick, almost
carrot-like, with the ability to conserve water, giving these stonecrops
an advantage like no other plant. Drought means nothing to them; in
fact Sedum Autumn Joy relishes dry and stony conditions. Good drainage
is essential, as fleshy roots such as these will rot if the moisture
doesn’t drain quickly from the crown of the plant.

Easily
propagated from stem cuttings or division of the fleshy roots, each
piece will make a new plant reaching its ultimate size in around three
to four seasons. On a scale of 1-10 for recommendation for xeriscaping,
Sedum Autumn Joy is one of the all time top three of all Sedum for borders varieties in my book.